Op-Ed: Highlights of Toronto's North-By-Northeast Festival

Toronto
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North-by-Northeast takes over the streets of Toronto from June 11th to 17th with nearly 800 bands from around the world playing dozens of venues across the city.

In addition there are over 40 music related films screening, a slew of interactive networking workshops, celebrity showcases, and parties, parties, parties.

The most difficult thing about festivals like this is planning out your schedule and trying to keep to it. Word of advice – plan your schedule and be satisfied if you make it to half of what you wanted to see. The other time should be spent catching bands you never heard of, watching a film that you just stumbled upon, or taking time for a drink with one of the thousands of fellow music lovers that invade the city.

As usual, this year there will be four nights of free concerts at Yonge-Dundas Square, with the likes of Bad Religion, Flaming Lips, Matthew Good, and Raekwon & Ghostface Killah. There will also be many official and unofficial parties happening, such as the M for Montreal Bruise Cruise, the Audio Blood & Bonsound Rooftop Riot, VICE Magazine Bonfire, the Jägermeister Boneyard BBQ, and the Pretty Pretty & Wa Magazine NXNEXPERIMENT II. Most require just a simple RSVP for entry and often have free music, free food, free swag, and free booze!

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Live music typically begins around 8pm and can go as late as 4am for venues with late licenses. Various festival passes are available allowing entry to most everything based on capacity, or patrons have the option to pay at the door of each venue. There’s also a film festival pass or individual tickets. All ticket info can be found here,